U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Weekly Update for Jan. 28, 2013

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 28, 2013) - The current U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team Weekly update released on Jan. 28 includes briefs on U.S. players.

FAUCETTE EARNS MVP DURING ITALIAN ALL-STAR GAME: Juliann Faucette (San Diego) was named the most valuable player of the Italian Serie A1 All-Star match on Jan. 27. She scored a team-high six points in leading the World All-Stars to a 26-24, 20-25, 15-12 victory. In between sets, she sang an Alicia Keys song to entertain the crowd.

TOM WITH BRAZIL’S UNILEVER: Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah), a four-time U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball selection with two silver medals, is playing this winter with Unilever in Brazil’s Superliga. Unilever blanked E.C. Pinheiros 25-15, 25-22, 25-19 on Jan. 22. Tom pocketed 10 points in just the first two sets. To view a photo gallery of the match, click here. Unilever earned a key 25-14, 25-9, 25-21 victory over Usiminas on Jan. 25. In starting just the first two sets again, Tom scored a team-high 11 points with nine kills on 14 attacks and two aces. After the match, Tom was awarded the Viva Volei Trophy as the match most valuable player. To view a photo gallery of the match, click here. Unilever, now in first place with a 12-1 record and 33 points, resumes action on Jan. 29 versus second-place Banana Boat/Praia Club (10-3, 30 points) in a match that can be seen on SporTV in Brazil, followed by a Feb. 1 contest against eighth-place Rio Do Sul (4-9, 12 points).

SCOTT-ARRUDA WITH BRAZIL’S BANANA BOAT: Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.), the only five-time U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team selection and a two-time Olympic Games silver medalist, joined Banana Boat/Praia Clube in mid-season of the Brazil Superliga. Banana Boat/Praia Clube lost for the first time in the second half schedule with a 25-16, 25-19, 25-22 setback to Sesi Sao Paulo on Jan. 22. Scott-Arruda notched six points in the loss. Banana Boat/Praia Clube bounced back to win a hard-fought 14-25, 27-29, 26-24, 25-20, 15-7 match over Sao Cristovao Saude on Jan. 25. Scott-Arruda contributed six points in starting just the first three sets. Banana Boat/Praia Clube, tied for second place with a 10-3 record and 30 points, resumes action on Jan. 29 versus league-leader Unilever (12-1, 33 points) in a match that can be seen live on SporTV in Brazil, followed by a Feb. 1 match versus second-place Sollys/Nestle (10-3, 30 points).

BERG WITH TURKEY’S FENERBAHCE: Lindsey Berg (Honolulu), a two-time Olympic Games silver medalist with the U.S. and three-time Olympian, signed to play with Fenerbahce in the Turkish League mid-way through the regular season. Berg set Fenerbahce to a 25-15, 25-20, 25-18 victory over Ilbank Spor on Jan. 27 in Turkish League action. During the match Fenerbahce converted 48 percent of its attacks as part of a .338 hitting efficiency. Fenerbahce, now in fourth place with a 9-4 record, resumes Turkish League action on Feb. 3 against Bursa B. Sehir Bld. In CEV Cup action, Berg helped Fenerbahce to a 25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20 victory over Tauron MKS Dabrowa Gornicza on Jan. 23 to complete the sweep of the home-and-home Challenge Round. Berg set Fenerbahce to a 46 kill percent as a team while adding four of her team’s seven aces in the match. With the series victory, Fenerbahce advances to the semifinal home-and-home round and will face Russia’s Uralochka NTMK Ekaterinburg on Feb. 6.

RICHARDS HILDEBRAND WITH TURKEY’S BAKIRKOY BELEDIYE YESILYURT: Kristin Richards Hildebrand (Orem, Utah), alternate for both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Teams, is competing for Bakirkoy Belediye Yesilyurt in the Turkish League. With Richards Hildbrand out of the lineup with an injury, Yesilyurt (5-8, 14 points) lost to Besiktas Bacesehir 25-21, 25-15, 25-23 on Jan. 27. Richards Hildebrand is expected to miss Yesilyurt’s next match on Feb. 3 versus Nilüfer Bld.

LARSON-BURBACH, BOWN WITH RUSSIA’S DINAMO KAZAN: Jordan Larson-Burbach (Hooper, Neb.) and Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.), who have each won an Olympic silver medal with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, are competing for Dinamo Kazan in the Russia Super League. In the CEV Champions League, Kazan stopped country rival Dinamo Moscow 29-27, 25-16, 16-25, 21-25, 15-13 on Jan. 23 to sweep the Playoff 12 home-and-home series and avoid going into a golden set to decide which teams advances to the Playoff 6 round. Larson-Burbach scored 20 points in the victory with 17 kills on 46 attacks, two blocks and an ace. She added a stellar 85 positive reception percent (67 excellent reception percent) on 27 chances. Bown did not compete in the match. Kazan will now face Rabita Baku in the home-and-home Playoff 6 Round with dates to be set. In the Russia Super League, Kazan improved to 14-0 with a hard-fought 21-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, 15-13 victory over Proton on Jan. 26. Larson-Burbach led the squad in scoring with 21 points. After missing several matches due to injury, Bown returned to the court and provided 15 points. Kazan resumes Russia Super League action on Feb. 2 versus fifth-place Omichka (8-5).

HOOKER WITH RUSSIA’S DINAMO KRASNODAR: Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas), who earned the Best Spiker Award at the 2012 Olympic Games while helping the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team to the silver medal, is competing for Dinamo Krasnodar in the Russia Super League this winter. Krasnodar (9-5, 26 points), now in fourth place, resumes league action on Feb. 2 versus Torch New Urengoy as most teams will have been inactive in regular season action since the 13th round ended on Jan. 12. Hooker resumed training this past week after missing nearly a month with an injury.

AKINRADEWO WITH AZERBAIJAN’S RABITA BAKU: Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), a silver medalist with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team at the 2012 Olympic Games, is competing for Rabita Baku in the Azerbaijan Super League. In CEV Champions League action, Rabita Baku swept its Playoff 12 home-and-home series with RC Cannes following a 25-19, 25-18, 25-17 victory on Jan. 24. Akinradewo scored nine points with four kills on 11 attacks, three aces and two blocks. Rabita advances to the home-and-home Playoff 6 round to face Russia’s Dinamo Kazan, which includes U.S. Olympians Jordan Larson-Burbach and Heather Bown. In the Azerbaijan Super League, Rabita Baku defeated Azerrail 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 on Jan. 28 to improve to 8-2 and avenge an earlier round loss to its rival. Akinradewo tallied a team-high 15 points with 11 kills on 15 attacks and just one error, three blocks and an ace. The victory also moved Rabita into first place in the league.

HODGE, WILSON WITH AZERBAIJAN’S AZERRAIL BAKU: Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.), a silver medalist on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is playing for Azerbaijan’s Azerrail Baku in 2012-2013 along with fellow Penn State University alum Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.). In CEV Champions League action, Azerrail completed the home-and-home Playoff 12 round series sweep over country rival Lokomotiv Baku with a 25-20, 25-18, 25-22 victory on Jan. 23. Azerrail now advances to the Playoff 6 home-and-home round to face Italy’s Unendo Yamamay Busto Arsizio with match dates still to be determined. In the Azerbaijan Super League, Azerrail lost to Rabita Baku 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 on Jan. 28 to fall to 7-2 and out of first place. Hodge tallied a team-high 11 points with all coming on kills from 24 attacks and just two attack errors.

METCALF WITH AZERBAIJAN’S IGTISADCHI BAKU: Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa), an opposite on the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is playing for Igtisadchi Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League in 2012-2013. In the Azerbaijan Super League, Igtisadchi (9-1) rallied to defeat Lokomotiv 21-25, 18-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-12 on Jan. 28 to take a share of the league’s top spot with 25 points.

TAMAS WITH AZERBAIJAN’S BAKI AZERYOLSERVIS: Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.), a 2008 silver medalist with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is playing for Baki Azeryolservis of the Azerbaijan Super League in 2012-2013. Baki Azeryolservis is now 3-5 in the league and in fifth place.

MIYASHIRO, SPICER WITH AZERBAIJAN’S LOKOMOTIV BAKU: Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii), a silver medalist with the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, signed mid-season with Azerbaijan’s Lokomotiv Baku. In the CEV Champions League, Lokomotiv lost 25-20, 25-18, 25-22 to country rival Azerrail Baku on Jan. 23 for its second match of the home-and-home Playoff 12 Round. In the Azerbaijan Super League, Lokomotiv lost to Igtisadchi 21-25, 18-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-12 on Jan. 28 to fall to fourth place in the league with 13 points.

DAVIS WITH GERMANY’S DRESDNER SC: Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.), a two-time Olympic Games silver medalist as a libero with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, joined Dresdner SC late in the 2012-13 season. Davis helped Dresdner SC to a 25-19, 27-25, 25-17 victory over Alliance MTV Stuttgart on Jan. 26. She recorded 19 service receptions in the match with a 68 positive reception percent to help the squad to 52 kill percent for the match. Dresdner SC, which is in second place with 24:6 points and an 11-3 record, returns to the court on Jan. 30 versus fourth-place VC Weisbaden (20-12), followed by a Feb. 2 match against third-place Rote Raben Vilsbiburg (26-6).

THOMPSON WITH POLAND’S BUDOWLANI LODZ: Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.), a setter on the 2012 silver medalist U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is playing for Budowlani Lodz of the Orlen Liga in Poland for 2012-2013. Budowlani Lodz defeated AZS Metal-Fach Bialystok 20-25, 26-24, 25-14, 25-23 on Jan. 26. Thompson started and played in only the first set. Lodz (8-8, 23 points), now in sixth place, returns to action on Feb. 4 versus third-place Atom Trefl Sopot (11-5, 33 points) in the second-to-last regular season match.

LLOYD, FAUCETTE WITH ITALY’S YAMAMAY BUSTO ARSIZIO: Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, Calif.), a setter with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is competing in the Italian Serie A1 league with Unendo Yamamay Busto Arsizio in 2012-2013 along with American Juliann Faucette (San Diego). Both athletes played for Epic Volleyball Club in San Diego as juniors before going separate ways at the collegiate level. In CEV Champions League action, Yamamay Busto Arsizio won its rematch with Germany’s Schweriner SC 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 25-18 on Jan. 24 to level its home-and-home Playoff 12 round series. Neither Faucette or Lloyd competed in the match. Busto Arsizio went on to win the golden set 15-10 immediately after the contest to advance to the next phase, the Playoff 6 round. Busto Arsizio will meet Azerbaijan’s Azerrail Baku in the Playoff 6 round with the home-and-home dates still to be announced. During the Italian Serie A1 All-Star match, Faucette scored six points in leading the World All-Stars to a 26-24, 202-5, 15-12 victory and was named most valuable player. Busto Arsizio (11-2, 33 points) returns to Italian League action on Feb. 10 versus sixth-place KGS Robursport Pesaro (7-5, 17 points).

HARMOTTO, GLASS WITH ITALY’S VOLLEY MODENA: Middle blocker Christa Harmotto (Hopewell Township, Pa.) and setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), both members of the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, are competing with Assicuratrice Milanese Volley Modena in the Italian Serie A1 in 2012-2013. Harmotto, a silver medalist at the 2012 Olympic Games, and Glass were also teammates at Penn State University before joining the National Team. In the CEV Challenge Cup, Modena defeated Ilbank Sports Club Ankara 25-8, 22-25, 25-10, 25-20 on Jan. 24 to split the home-and-home 8th Final Round series in Modena. However, Ilbank won the golden set 15-9 to advance to the next round. To view a photo gallery of the reactions after the match, which would end up being the last match of the season for Modena, click here. According to published league reports on Jan. 23, Modena has withdrawn from the Italian Serie A1 season citing lack of financial resources. Modena (6-6, 23 points) was in third place in the Italian Serie A1 regular season. Modena was set to play its next match on Feb. 3 versus fourth-place Asystel McCarnaghi Villa Cortese (7-5, 22 points).

KLINEMAN WITH ITALY’S ASYSTEL McCARNAGHI VILLA CORTESE: Alix Klineman (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) returns to the Italian Serie A1 for a second season, but will compete for Asystel McCarnaghi Villa Cortese in 2012-2013. In CEV Champions League action, Villa Cortese lost its second straight match to Turkey’s Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul 25-20, 15-25, 25-17, 15-25, 15-9 on Jan. 24 to end the home-and-home Playoff Round 12 home-and-home series. Villa Cortese needed to capture the match to force a golden set for the right to advance to the Playoff 6 round. In the fifth set, Villa Cortese went up 4-0 but Eczacibasi went on a 10-1 scoring run to take control. Klineman notched a team-high 19 points with 13 kills on 40 attacks, four aces and two blocks. She added 19 service receptions. In the Italian Serie A1, Villa Cortese and the rest of the league was idle this past week as the All-Star match took center stage on Jan. 27. Villa Cortese (7-5, 22 points), now in fourth place, takes on third-place Assicuratrice Milanese Volley Modena (6-6, 23 points) on Feb. 3 in the next regular season match.

GIBBEMEYER WITH ITALY’S VOLLEY PESARO: Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.), a middle blocker with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is competing for Robursport Volley Pesaro in the Italian Serie A1 league in 2012-2013. The Italian Serie A1 regular season was on hiatus this week with the All-Star match taking center stage. Pesaro (7-5, 17 points), now in sixth place, resumes league action on Feb. 3 versus seventh-place Duck Farm Chieri Torino (6-6, 16 points).

KIM GLASS WITH CHINA’S EVERGRANDE: Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, has reunited with her 2008 U.S. Olympic Games silver-medal winning coach, Jenny Lang Ping, with Evergrande Guangdong in the Chinese League this winter. Evergrande lost to Bohai Bank Tianjin 23-25, 25-17, 12-25, 25-22, 15-12 in a heart-breaking match on Jan. 26 to lose the championship best-of-three series in two matches. Glass was a sub in the second set only and did not score. Tianjin had won the championship series’ first match on Jan. 19.

FAWCETT WITH KOREA EXPRESSWAY IN KOREA LEAGUE: Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), an opposite with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is competing with Korea Expressway in the Korean professional league. Korea Expressway lost to Hyundai in a thrilling five-set match in its most recent contest.

LICHTMAN WITH SWITZERLAND’S HOTEL CRISTAL VFM I: Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is competing for Hotel Cristal VFM I in the Swiss Volley League along with Americans Bianca Rowland, Brianna Barry, Michelle Kocher, Lise Muhlemann and Amber Roberson. Hotel Cristal VFM lost to Volley Koniz 25-17, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21 on Jan. 26 to fall to 0-4 in the five-team double round-robin playoffs. Hotel Cristal VFM starts the second round of the round robin on Feb. 3 versus VC Kanti Schaffhausen I.

U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL TEAM TRYOUT: The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team will hold its annual open tryout Feb. 22-24, 2013, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs. This tryout is open to United States citizens who are current college-age athletes and older, and high school athletes born in 1993 or earlier. Throughout the tryout process, USA Volleyball will be identifying prospective athletes for the following two different programs: U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Program; U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Senior A2 Team. The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team Program is available to athletes who have concluded their collegiate eligibility and who wish to be invited to be a member of the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team on a full-time basis. This program could begin as early as the spring of 2013, or when an athlete’s scholastic or professional club season has concluded. Also considered for training with this group will be athletes who have remaining collegiate eligibility and their participation beginning in mid-May or when their scholastic calendar ends for 2013. The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Senior A2 Teams is available to athletes in college and with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2013 collegiate season. This projected 48-athlete program is scheduled to take place in Dallas from June 25 to July 4 with training and competition at the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC). For additional details including tryout fees, click here.